“They Say, I Say” How to enter into an argument

“…to give writing the most important thing of all -- namely, a point -- a writer needs to indicate clearly not only his or her thesis, but also what larger conversation that thesis is responding to” (Graff ).

Order In order to engage the audience, you - the writer - need to tell your audience what or who you are responding to prior to offering the response. You are entering into a conversation that is already taking place in writing, on television and the radio, and in person, therefore you must start with “what others are saying” and then provide what you are saying as a response (hence “they say, I say”). In order to engage the audience, you - the writer - need to tell your audience what or who you are responding to prior to offering the response. You are entering into a conversation that is already taking place in writing, on television and the radio, and in person, therefore you must start with “what others are saying” and then provide what you are saying as a response (hence “they say, I say”).

Order, cont. It is a good idea to summarize the “they say” as early as you can in your argument, while still providing a clear introduction and thesis. It can be useful to have the “they say” argument shape your introduction, because it helps to introduce your topic well and it clearly demonstrates why you are entering into this conversation.

Including the “they say” You do not need to (and should not) attempt to provide a list of what EVERYONE has said on this subject, unless it is an extremely limited subject. Instead, point to the most influential comments on your subject as well as the more recent commentary. You do not need to (and should not) attempt to provide a list of what EVERYONE has said on this subject, unless it is an extremely limited subject. Instead, point to the most influential comments on your subject as well as the more recent commentary.

Including the “they say” Think of the “they say” and the “I say” as a unit. You want to both introduce what you are responding to and your response together. Do not spend an entire paragraph talking about the “they say” without providing the “I say”

Find the “they say” and the “I say” “ Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse …. [But] the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble ” (Orwell) George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946 “ Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse …. [But] the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble ” (Orwell) George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946

Find the “they say” and the “I say” “ Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse …. [But] the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble” (Orwell) George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946 “ Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse …. [But] the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble” (Orwell) George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946

In your own words: “Many people believe that the poor state of the English language cannot be changed, but I think that it can.” Note how the “they say, I say” argument comes together as one unit. “Many people believe that the poor state of the English language cannot be changed, but I think that it can.” Note how the “they say, I say” argument comes together as one unit.

Other ways to open an argument Instead of starting by explicitly stating the “they say” you could also: 1. Provide a fact or statistic 2. Insert a telling quote 3. Summarize a useful anecdote Instead of starting by explicitly stating the “they say” you could also: 1. Provide a fact or statistic 2. Insert a telling quote 3. Summarize a useful anecdote

Open an argument 1.Provide a fact or statistic “According to CNN, 95% of Americans think our language is doomed.” 2. Insert a telling quote President Obama recently said, “The English language has gone downhill and will likely never recover.” 3. Summarize a useful anecdote “Last week I received an from a student that was so riddled with text-speak (‘u,’ ‘thx’ and ‘2mro’) that I could not even understand what the student was asking.” 1.Provide a fact or statistic “According to CNN, 95% of Americans think our language is doomed.” 2. Insert a telling quote President Obama recently said, “The English language has gone downhill and will likely never recover.” 3. Summarize a useful anecdote “Last week I received an from a student that was so riddled with text-speak (‘u,’ ‘thx’ and ‘2mro’) that I could not even understand what the student was asking.”

Other ways to open an argument Whatever method you use to open your argument, you must in some way demonstrate what the “they say” is saying. If your quote, statistic, or anecdote doesn’t thoroughly illustrate the argument you are responding to, then you need something else.

Templates for introducing what “they say” A number of sociologists have recently suggested that X’s work has several fundamental problems. It has become common today to dismiss X’s contribution to the field of sociology. In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of Dr. X for ______________. A number of sociologists have recently suggested that X’s work has several fundamental problems. It has become common today to dismiss X’s contribution to the field of sociology. In their recent work, Y and Z have offered harsh critiques of Dr. X for ______________.

Standard views Ideas that have become so widely accepted that few people question them - it is, essentially, the conventional way of thinking. Ex: “Pluto is a planet” was a standard view that someone questioned. Ideas that have become so widely accepted that few people question them - it is, essentially, the conventional way of thinking. Ex: “Pluto is a planet” was a standard view that someone questioned.

Templates for introducing standard views Americans today tend to believe that ___________. Conventional wisdom has it that ______________. Common sense seems to dictate that _________. The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that ______________. It is often said that ______________. My whole life I have heard it said that ___________. You would think that ____________. Many people assume that ___________. Americans today tend to believe that ___________. Conventional wisdom has it that ______________. Common sense seems to dictate that _________. The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that ______________. It is often said that ______________. My whole life I have heard it said that ___________. You would think that ____________. Many people assume that ___________.

Practice using templates for introducing standard views Americans today tend to believe that ___________. Conventional wisdom has it that ______________. Common sense seems to dictate that _________. The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that ______________. It is often said that ______________. My whole life I have heard it said that ___________. You would think that ____________. Many people assume that ___________. Americans today tend to believe that ___________. Conventional wisdom has it that ______________. Common sense seems to dictate that _________. The standard way of thinking about topic X has it that ______________. It is often said that ______________. My whole life I have heard it said that ___________. You would think that ____________. Many people assume that ___________.

Templates for making what “they say” something you say I ’ ve always believed that ____________. At one time I used to think that _______, but now I believe that _______. Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that ________. While I believe _____________, I am also convinced that ______________. I ’ ve always believed that ____________. At one time I used to think that _______, but now I believe that _______. Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that ________. While I believe _____________, I am also convinced that ______________.

Practice making what “they say” something you say I ’ ve always believed that ____________. At one time I used to think that _______, but now I believe that _______. Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that ________. While I believe _____________, I am also convinced that ______________. I ’ ve always believed that ____________. At one time I used to think that _______, but now I believe that _______. Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking that ________. While I believe _____________, I am also convinced that ______________.

Templates for introducing something implied or assumed Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that _______________. One implication of I ’ ve treatment of _____________is that _____________. Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that _______. While they rarely admit as much, _______, often take for granted that ________. Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that _______________. One implication of I ’ ve treatment of _____________is that _____________. Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that _______. While they rarely admit as much, _______, often take for granted that ________.

Practice using templates for introducing something implied or assumed Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that _______________. One implication of I ’ ve treatment of _____________is that _____________. Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that _______. While they rarely admit as much, _______, often take for granted that ________. Although none of them have ever said so directly, my teachers have often given me the impression that _______________. One implication of I ’ ve treatment of _____________is that _____________. Although X does not say so directly, she apparently assumes that _______. While they rarely admit as much, _______, often take for granted that ________.

Templates for introducing on ongoing debate In discussions of X, one controversial issue has been________________. On the one hand, ____________ argues _______________. On the other hand, ___________ contends ______________. Others even maintain _____________. My own view is that ____________________________________ ____________.

Templates for introducing on ongoing debate When it comes to the topic of ___________, most of us will readily agree that ___________________________________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of ______________. Whereas some are convinced that _________________________, others maintain that ________________________.

Practice using templates for introducing on ongoing debate When it comes to the topic of ___________, most of us will readily agree that ___________________________________. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of ______________. Whereas some are convinced that _________________________, others maintain that ________________________.

Keep what “they say” in view Even after introducing the “they say” at the start of the essay, you need to keep the “they say” in mind throughout your paper. You need to keep reminding readers what claims you are responding to. Even after introducing the “they say” at the start of the essay, you need to keep the “they say” in mind throughout your paper. You need to keep reminding readers what claims you are responding to.

Supply a “they say” for these “I says” using one of the templates 1.Our experiments suggest that there are dangerous levels of Chemical X in the Ohio groundwater. 2.My own view is that this novel has certain flaws. 3.Football is so boring. 4.Male students often dominate class discussions. 5.In my view the film is really about the problems of romantic relationships. 6.I’m afraid that templates like the ones in our book will stifle my creativity. 7.Eating fruit without washing it is very dangerous. 1.Our experiments suggest that there are dangerous levels of Chemical X in the Ohio groundwater. 2.My own view is that this novel has certain flaws. 3.Football is so boring. 4.Male students often dominate class discussions. 5.In my view the film is really about the problems of romantic relationships. 6.I’m afraid that templates like the ones in our book will stifle my creativity. 7.Eating fruit without washing it is very dangerous.